チームニュース

Talking Points: In Pep we trust...

Plenty to go at with some sensationalistic headlines debunked and a warrior saluted...

Club Journalist @dclayton_mcfc takes a look at the City display at the Nou Camp, plus at Pablo Zabaleta, current form and Southampton...

1 Humiliated? Get real...

It’s interesting reading how some reports in the media go for the ‘City humiliated’ angle in this morning’s press coverage.

Really?

Yes, a 4-0 reverse is never pleasant but the truth of last night’s defeat is that the Blues were more than holding their own against Barcelona up to the Claudio Bravo sending off.

After that, with Bravo gone, Pablo Zabaleta injured and the hard-working Nolito sacrificed, it was a different story with few better teams in world football able to exploit the extra space and time the dismissal resulted in.

So yes, the score-line suggests a thrashing, but the truth is the contest was much closer than the four-goal margin suggests.

2 Learning curve

With so many new ideas to take on board and adapt to, there will be difficult moments in the months ahead but, for those who have watched the classic TV comedy Dad’s Army, the oft-recalled line “Don’t panic Captain Mainwaring!” is worth remembering.

Pep has pledged that his teams will play from the goalkeeper until the day he retires, so yes, there will be heart in the mouth moments and the odd mistake – how costly they prove to be remains to be seen – but the risk is worthwhile.

Some of the play from defence, starting with Bravo, has been sublime this season. The Chilean has been in the spotlight from day one, as has Pep’s policy of having a ‘sweeper keeper’ – but City will get better at it as the season progresses and never quite knowing what the opposition are going to do with the ball isn’t a bad tool to have in your armoury, is it?

More and more teams will play this way and what is currently employed by only one or two clubs in the Premier League at present will eventually become six or seven.

And the defenders will become more confident as they, too, adapt to Pep’s ideas. One thing is for sure – it will never be dull and as City fans, isn’t that what we demand?

3 Warrior

If ever you wanted to sum up why City fans love Pablo Zabaleta - and maybe why a few players around the globe who love to milk a foul should take a look in the mirror – it was his determination to walk off the pitch with dignity.

Nobody has shed as much claret as Zaba over the years and despite blood clearly running freely out of the top of his foot, he walked off rather than be stretchered off.

Barcelona are Barcelona and on their own ground, you can’t make mistakes – we did – but the Blues still have every chance of progressing through to the knockout stages, sit top of the Premier League and have a League Cup derby on the horizon. Not exactly a club in crisis.

5 So solid Saints

With just one goal conceded in seven games prior to Thursday’s Europa League trip to face Inter Milan, Southampton have quickly found their feet under new boss Claude Puel.

Many thought Ronald Koeman’s departure would result in the Saints going backwards, but they have looked defensively solid and they are arguably the form team of the Premier League.

The Blues will be desperate to get back to winning ways so expect Pep to have his team revved up and charging out of the blocks – but it won’t be easy to break down one of the meanest defences in the country.